‘Jungalbook’ Opening at ZACH Theatre This Fall

Adventure awaits in a jungle where danger lurks in every tree and only the brave dare enter! ZACH Theatre announced the cast for Jungalbook, the 2019–20 season opener for ZACH’s Moody Foundation Family Series. A retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli stories, Jungalbook is adapted by Edward Mast and plays The Kleberg at ZACH, from September 7 to December 14, 2019, under the direction of Associate Artistic Director Nat Miller with original music by Allen Robertson.

“Our adaptation of Jungalbook includes a mix of beautiful costume designs and mask work with live puppetry, as well as shadow puppetry,” Miller explains ZACH’s approach to this Kipling classic. “Mowgli will be double cast by two of our female pre-professional actresses, Chloe Van De Graaf and Blakeney Mahlstedt. Audiences may recognize them most recently from Matilda The Musical along with other ZACH favorites, Mary Poppins and A Christmas Carol. Having a female actress play Mowgli gives the character a new perspective as both a powerful fearless female protagonist as well as somebody who has empathy for nature. Jungalbook is a play about how humans and nature live in harmony, both with each other and the world that surrounds us and we can’t wait to share that experience with audiences.”

This energetic and creative version of the classic tale ignites imagination and propels the audience through a world ruled by the wild. When her parents are killed by Sherakhan, the young girl Mowgli is raised by wolves, under the protection of her friends Bagheera and Baloo. In this tale of loyalty and betrayal, Mowgli must find the courage to face this challenge and choose her fate under consequences of jungle law.

Age Recommendation: Five and up
Run time: 55 minutes with a 10-minute intermission

Tickets for Jungalbook are $18 (Youth) and $24 (Adult) and are available online at zachtheatre.org, by phone at 512-476-0541, or in person at the ZACH Theatre Box Office 

Performance Schedule:

Saturdays at 2p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. beginning Sept 15; NO SHOWS weekend of Oct 5–6 and 12–13 (ACL Fest); special evening performance Friday, Oct 15 at 7 p.m.; Nov 2 added 11 a.m. performance for Sensory Friendly; Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. beginning Nov 16.

CAST

Blakeney Mahlstedt – Mowgli
Chloe Van De Graaf – Mowgli
Wilkes Goodner – Understudy for Mowgli
Stella Frye – Ginsberg – Grey/Kaa/Ensemble
Araya Feeney – Grey/Kaa/Ensemble
Bruce Bowen – Grab/Elephant
Mercy Bovik – Grab/Elephant
Samantha Beam – Perchy/Chil/Hyena/Elephant
Paige Riley – Perchy/Chil/Hyena/Elephant
Sloane Johnson – Understudy for Grey/Grab/Perchy/Ensemble
Abigail Storm – Understudy for Grey/Grab/Perchy/Ensemble
Amber Quick – Sherakhan
Lara Wright – Akela
Freddy Franklin – Bagheera
John Christopher – Baloo
Susannah Crowell – Understudy for Female Roles
Omar Lewis – Understudy for Male Roles

PRODUCTION TEAM

Nat Miller – Director
Scott Groh – Scenic and Properties Designer
Jamie Garner – Costume Designer
Melina Perez – Assistant Costume Designer
Serret Jensen – Hair and Makeup Designer
Austin Brown – Lighting Designer
Allen Robertson – Sound Designer
Gabriela De La Rosa – Company Manager
Davvi Solomon – Stage Manager
Maria Negg – Assistant Stage Manager